By Daniel Edu
In a surprising turn of events, the military coup leaders in Gabon have decided to release the deposed President Ali Bongo, permitting him to travel abroad for medical treatment. The announcement was made by Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi, the spokesperson for the junta, during a televised address on Wednesday, as reported by CNN.
Ali Bongo had been confined to house arrest following the coup that occurred in late August in the Central African nation. Concerns about his health and well-being prompted this unexpected decision by the junta.
In the televised statement, Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi conveyed the junta’s decision, saying, “Given his current health condition, former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is now free to move about. If he so desires, he is allowed to travel abroad for necessary medical check-ups.” The statement was read on behalf of transitional leader General Brice Oligui Nguema.
Notably, images were released by the junta showing Ali Bongo warmly greeting Abdou Abarry, the head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, at Bongo’s residence in the capital city of Libreville. These images provide a rare glimpse of the deposed Gabonese leader since his removal from power.
Shortly after the military officers placed him under house arrest during the coup, a video surfaced in which Ali Bongo appealed to his supporters, saying, “The people here have arrested me… I’m in the residence… I don’t know what is going on.”
Ali Bongo, aged 64, had suffered a stroke in 2018, which led to months of medical treatment in Morocco. This raised questions about his fitness to continue as president and resulted in an unsuccessful coup attempt in 2019. He had held power for 14 years, succeeding his father, Omar Bongo, in 2009, and had sought another term in the disputed elections that took place last month.
